Starting the Campaign with Hope and a Prayer

As Corazon Aquino agonized more than a year ago over whether to challenge Ferdinand Marcos for the presidency, she was closely observed by TIME Correspondent Sandra Burton, who was assigned to Manila. In the following account, Burton, who is writing a book on the Philippines, recalls how the future President made the toughest decision of her life.

During the week after Marcos' announcement of snap elections, Cory was anxious and confused as she moved from one meeting to another. Though few knew it at the time, she was quietly undergoing a crash course in the art and issues of presidential campaigning...